Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-31

Inc uenOency OF people 10 grasp with IRAN
tic eagerness every business or social sensa-
ton that presents itself is powerfully illus
trated by the widespread interest which the
recent discovery, in northwestern Ohio, of
natural gas in large quantities, has attracted.
For seventy-five years the northwestern
corner Of Ohio has been q quiet agricultural
and numbering region. 1t was originally a
swampy part of the state, but has been re-
deemed by the grace of cultivation and drain
age; still, it has never been considered a
favored district, and a few years ago no reolo-
gist or practical driller would have advised a
friend or patron to put down a well in west
ern Ohio. But conditions change with dra-
matte celebrity in this country, and to-day
northwestern Ohio is the scene of an intense
and contagious excitement.
~.
few days ago the largest gas well in the
world was struck near Findlay. Its daily
output Of gas is %, DOC, 900 cubic feet There
are in the aggregate forty five gas wells in
and about Findlay. Together they pour
forth 100, 100000 cubic feet Of gas daily, an
equal amount in heating capacity to 5000
tons of coal.
The Ohio natural gas is said to be richer i'm
heat producing properties than the Pennsyl-
vania gas by Is per cent, according to the
''Hto anu SsthIldUtS VI St'leUUlHc men. "A Drac-
teal manufacturer Of glass told me, however,
that there was difference of SO per cent in
favor of the Ohio gas; at Pittsburg it required
sixteen gas pipes of uniform size to meet the
demands of his furnace, while at Findlay the
same amount of work was done by eight
pipes similar in size and arrangement
Tie town OF Findlay has unique situation
1t stands directly over a great reservoir of
natural gas and petroleum
There is very important and significant
geological fact in connection with the Ohio
gas and oil discoveries. Both fluids come
from the Trenton limestone, a WIDESPREAD
formation of the lower silurian age. In order
that gas or oil may be given forth in valuable
quantities there must always be some struc-
tural popularity in the Trenton limestone
formation so that an arch will be formed to
serve as storehouse for the fluids to accu-
mulate in. The town Of Findlay, which is
the center Of the gas region is built over
such fold or arch in the limestone The
western extremity of this arch is coincident
with the north and south line made by the
Main street OF F1ndlay, so that a we'll may
be drilled anywhere east Of that street, and
dry gas will be found in abundance at n
depth of about $50 feet A person cannot
dig cellar or well without setting some pes
free, and it is said, in jest, that difficulty
is found in setting fence posts on account of
the pressure OF gas from beneath The ground
seems to be saturated with it, and it was the
presence of very considerable surface indica
tons that led to the drilling of the first gas
well, three years ago The people of Findlay
saw indications OF gas for half a century
without suspecting the remarkable treasure
underlying them. One man in the town, a
German physician named Charles Oesterlen.
read the signs with an intelligent and pro-
phetic eye. Forty years ago he became con-
WINGED that an enormous reservoir of natural
gas lay beneath the town of Findlay. He
told his belief and was scoffed at-men called
him the "gas fool" and until 1884 he was re-
garded as vain dreamer. But patience and
perseverance at last prevailed, and three
years ago he succeeded in organizing a stock
company to drill for gas The well was n
successful one, and when the gas gusbed
forth with painting roar and shot column
of fame sixty feet into the air, people were
alarmed for a time. But the faith of DR..
Oesterlen was vindcated and the truth of his
theories established
Findlay was small and almost unknown
town when gas was struck. 1t took year
for the news of the wonderful discoveries to
spread, and it was not till last year, when the
great Karg well, with a capacity of Is, 900 900
cubic feet daily, was struck, that the atten-
ton of the public was arrested by the dew ell
opments and possibilities at Findlay.
The owners of the wells were at a loss to
dispose of their gas for time. For many
months the great Karg well blew its mighty
volumes of gas into the air and wasted every
hour enough to supply q city The roar of
this well could be heard for two miles. and
when it was lighted at night great balloon
shaped tower Of fame sprang like magic 100
feet into the air and lighted up the country
for score of miles about. The gas leaves
the wells with pressure of 400 pounds to the
square inch and with so much force that it
has raised piece of iron weighing three tons
more than 100 feet above the ground
At present the wells, with the exception of
nine new ones, are sealed up with iron CON
nections and valves, and are only opened
when 1t is desired to treat visitors to a rare
and engaging spectacle. On the 10th of next
month there is to be a celebration at Findlay
to commemorate the first anniversary Of the
application of natural gas in Ohio to the
mechanical arts, and believe on that occa-
sion all Of the wells are to be opened II half
of them are lighted at one time they will
make one Of the most intense and brilliant
illuminations ever witnessed.
***
Gas is no longer wasted in large quantities,
tnouSu IL Is burned WIN the utmost freedom,
When one alights from the cars great plumes
OF flame faring from 100 tall pipes greet
the eyes. These flames burn both night and
day. Natural gas is cheap as air in Findlay.
and any man can have a gas we'll in his yard
if he so chooses. The cost Of drilling a well
is about 81 500, but gas is supplied so cheaply
to consumers that no one thinks of drilling
we'll except for factory or mill The city
owns number of fine wells and has pines
under all the streets. Gas is furnished to
consumers for fifteen cents a month for each
CRATE or stove and the consumer is permitted
to burn as much or as little as he chooses.
There are no meters or other measuring ap-
paratus used.
The gas has distinct and penetrating sui
phuric odor, so that il is safer for household
use than manufactured gas. as it cannot es-
cape without being quickly detected. Gas is
great luxury as fuel. There is no smoke,
dirt or expensive manipulation connected
with it, 1t is easily managed and burns with
a beautiful blue fame that emits an intense
heat which never varies in degree.
There is a good deal of speculation respect